On the Eve of the Opening Ceremonies, Durbin Honors Olympic Athletes from Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With the Opening Ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to be held tomorrow morning, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the athletes from Illinois who will be competing in Sochi, Russia. "Tomorrow, hundreds of athletes from across the world will gather in Sochi, Russia for the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It is a time when almost all the nations of the world come together in the spirit of peace and cooperation to celebrate the bes… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Federal Judicial Nominee in Southern District of Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved Nancy Rosenstengel for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Nancy Rosenstengel will make an exceptional judge in the Southern District. Her nomination is an historic one. Upon confirmation, Ms. Rosenstengel will be the first wo… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds CVS Caremark Decision to Stop Tobacco Sales

[Washington, DC] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after CVS Caremark announced that it would stop selling tobacco products - including e-cigarettes - in its stores by October 14, 2014. "Today, CVS has set out to prove what many of us already believe: that looking out for the long-term well-being of their customers isn't just good for public health, it is also good business," said Durbin. "I believe this decision will not only have a positive impact on t… Continue Reading

Durbin: New Exemptions Will Allow More Syrian Refugees to Enter U.S.

Washington, D.C. - Almost one month to the day after Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked the Obama administration to take steps to address the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, the Administration announced a series of exemptions to the overly-broad "material support" bar in U.S. immigration law. These exemptions will help ensure that innocent refugees will not be barred from the United States because they provided insignificant support to armed rebel groups. "These exemptions will help address the … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Leaders From Illinois Colleges and Universities To Discuss Higher Education Issues

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Barbara Farley, President of Illinois College to discuss higher education issues including reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, making college textbooks more affordable, and student loan reform measures. A photo of today's meeting with President Farley is available here. Durbin also met, today, with representatives from the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. A photo of that meeting is available… Continue Reading

Members of Congress Call for Ban of E-Cigarettes on Capitol Grounds

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To ensure that visitors and staff are protected from the potential dangers posed by electronic cigarettes and their vapor, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) today called on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Office Building Commission to include electronic cigarettes in existing prohibit… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Final Passage of Farm Bill That Will Help Illinois Farmers & Working Families

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Illinois farmers will finally have the certainty they need to make plans for the future, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today following Senate passage of the Farm Bill conference report. The legislation will save roughly $23 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels, and reforms several titles to help producers better manage risk, makes key investments in energy and research, ensures programs are in place to help rural communities grow … Continue Reading

Durbin: It's About Time Congress Passes a Bipartisan Farm Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Illinois farmers will finally have the certainty they need to make plans for the future, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today prior to a Senate vote on the Farm Bill conference report. The legislation will save roughly $23 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels, and reforms several titles to help producers better manage risk, makes key investments in energy and research, ensures programs are in place to help rural communities grow an… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Passes Bill that Will Allow Metro East to Avoid High Flood Insurance Premiums While Upgrading Levees

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Flood Insurance legislation that passed the Senate today will allow Metro East, Illinois officials to take steps to avoid unreasonably high flood insurance premiums while the community is working to upgrade the region's levee system. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act aims to help communities qualify for lower rates if they are in the process of constructing or reconstructing flood protection systems. Three Metro East counties - M… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Federal Investigation Into Monday's Deadly Tollway Crash

US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to "immediately and fully" investigate Monday's deadly tollway crash on I-88 in Aurora, Illinois. According to news reports, the driver in the crash had been on the road for more than 30 hours with little to no sleep, in violation of federal law. In a letter to FMCSA's Administrator Anne Ferro, Durbin asked the agency to determine if the driver, or his employer, DND International, violated r… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Effort to Better Track Military and Veterans Education Benefits

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education and Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced the launch of a new online complaint system designed to collect feedback from veterans, service members and their families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions that receive funding from federal military and veterans educational benefits programs. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Servicemember Who Will Be His Guest for the State of the Union

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (HM3) Joseph Marcinkowski from Batavia, Illinois who will be his guest for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address later this evening. Durbin has invited Illinois servicemembers who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as his guests to the State of the Union since 2005 when he hosted Army Major Tammy Duckworth. HM3 Marcinkowski will also attend the Secretary of the Senate's dinner… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure investment… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Kelly Introduce Bill to Establish National Park in Pullman

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced that they will introduce legislation next week to create the Pullman National Historical Park in the neighborhood's historical district, an architecturally unique neighborhood which played important roles in America's railroad, industrial and labor history. "There is much to preserve and celebrate in Chicago's unique Pullman neighborhood, from its important role in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Call on EPA to Support Rural America's Economy, Environment & Revise Fuel Standards Proposal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and twenty-six of their Senate colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy yesterday urging the agency to firmly support the future of biofuels and revise its proposed waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Senators shared their concerns regarding the proposed rule's potential impact on our … Continue Reading

Durbin, Foster Announce More Than $1 Million Investment in Naperville First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,002,000 grant to the Naperville Fire Department in Naperville, Illinois for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Today's grant will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur, firefighters and first-responders will always sta… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Helps Ensure Strong Future for Thompson Prison, Rock Island Arsenal

[ROCK ISLAND] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today said that the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which both houses of Congress passed this week on bipartisan votes and now heads to President Obama's desk, contains funding to activate Thomson Correctional Center and secure a strong future for the Rock Island Arsenal. Durbin and Bustos also announced they have written federal Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels requesting the agency sp… Continue Reading

CTA Poised to Benefit from Funding of New "Core Capacity" Program

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today said that as the only transit system currently accepted into the FTA's Core Capacity Program, the CTA is poised to benefit from the infusion of funding included in the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was passed on a bipartisan Senate vote yesterday and now moves to President Obama's desk for his signature. Every mem… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Surgeon General's First Report on Smoking Was a Turning Point, But We Still Have a Long Way to Go

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Tobacco Use, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin spoke on the United States Senate Floor today to recognize the landmark report and the progress that has been made since it first sparked a public debate on the public health impact of smoking half a century ago. Today, Durbin also called for a renewed commitment to halting the still ongoing and deadly epidemic of tobacco, particularly among young people. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Ask FEMA to Fix Funding Formulas That Hurt Downstate Illinois Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fix the funding formulas that are unfairly putting downstate Illinois communities at a disadvantage following a disaster. Durbin and Kirk note that while FEMA is currently reviewing its disaster assistance process - required by law in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 - the agency should consider the legislation the Senators introduced following t… Continue Reading